“They probably noticed, but no one asked me. Which is good as I don’t like lying.”
“And what would the lie be if someone did ask?”
“That I scratched an old injury and it got infected.”
“Hah, I expected something better.”
“Something like: I was bitten by a rabid Inquirer?”
“Yeah, that’s more like it.” We laughed.
“There you are!” Doris showed up out of nowhere. “Come on, we snagged a hot tub!”
Belun first helped me from the pool and then lifted himself out in the most elegant way I’d ever seen.
“Doris, what do you think about his infection?” I showed Belun’s injury, hiding a sly grin.
“It’s nasty.”
He pinched me on my back, but Doris was already walking ahead of us.
Aidan was enjoying the warm bubbles, and when I got in, I could feel them bouncing off my body. Belun’s arm was next to mine.
“Divine,” Doris sighed, losing herself in pleasure.
I leaned back my head and closed my eyes. The warm water babbled on as the image of Belun’s almost naked body filled my thoughts. He hadn’t even been that naked in that dream of mine . . . .
Then I opened my eyes; something was off. Something inside me. Seeing the four of us like that, as if we were on a double date . . . My anxiety started to grow. No one seemed to notice my mood change, but they all followed me with their eyes when I left the tub. I ignored them.
I noticed Set talking with a redhead girl. What was that cocktail’s name?
“Set?” I approached them.
“Yes, angel?”
“What was that cocktail you ordered?”
He smiled and went to the bar. I hadn’t meant to bother him, but okay.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean . . .” I said to the girl, indicating between the bar and Set.
“It’s okay,” she said shyly. She was pretty and delicate, and I hadn’t seen her before. Looking at her, I felt some strange strength in me.
“I’m Nika.”
“Lara.” She took my hand gently, and, for some reason, I didn’t let her hand go until she lowered her gaze.
“See you,” I said to her, heading toward the bar.
I walked near the edge of the pool, feeling water under my feet. Set held two drinks, and, seeing me coming his way, returned to the bar. Then I felt something splash on my stomach. Something red.
“Oh, oops, I’m sorry!” It was Simona’s voice, and in her hand was an empty wine glass. She stood there, innocently blinking her vicious eyes. But she had me in the wrong mood.
“Bitch,” I said quietly, pushing her into water without any effort. She squeaked as she and her golden sandals flew backwards with a splash.
I moved on, not even looking back. I heard chuckles behind me. Set greeted me, his eyes wide.
“No drinks for you.”
He was joking, I hoped, because I really wanted that sweet taste in my mouth. So I grabbed his wrist, squeezing it. Uneasiness crossed his eyes.
“Okay, don’t get mad,” he said, giving me the cocktail. I let go his wrist and sat on a bar stool, reaching for some napkins to dry off my stomach.
“What did wet Simona do?”
“She was in my way.” My voice had an edge in it.
“Or you were in hers.”
At his insinuation, my eyes shot through him, which made him laugh a bit. He drew his finger over my stomach, taking the last drop of wine and licking it.
“Mmm, that wine is older than you, but it’s tastier this way.”
There was something in the way he had touched my skin. I felt totally drawn to him, staring at his lips. Suddenly he stopped grinning.
“Nika?”
I looked up obnoxiously. Why bother with eyes when the lips were so much juicier?
“Yes?”
“You’re weird,” he said.
“You’re imagining it.”
I expected a grin, but it didn’t show up. Set only looked at me warily. But still, I turned back to his lips. They were not like Belun’s but they were lighter and less complicated.
“Maybe you really shouldn’t drink anymore.” He went for my glass, but I was faster, placing it out of his reach.
“And maybe you should relax,” I said. An insecure smile crossed his lips. I felt a shadow pass over my eyes. I looked at him like a predator looking his prey.
“Angel, I think we switched roles.”
“What’s so bad about that?”
His insecurity became more apparent, and when I took his hand, his face tightened.
“You like the redhead?”
“What?” he was confused.
“Lara. So tender and sweet.”
“Weird time to mention tenderness,” he said, feeling my pressure on his wrist again.
“Did she get the flower yet?” I grinned, and he seemed perplexed. This was fun!
“It’s only for special girls.”
“But she’s your type. So fragile and innocent looking, just like you like them.”
He didn’t reply and I moved closer.
“What charms do you use on your own race?”
He looked at me, bewildered by my behavior, while I glared into his dark eyes provocatively.
“C’mon, you can be more fun,” I whispered.
“Doris!” he exclaimed, an odd relief in his tone.
“Come on girl, we’re leaving,” she told me, looking strangely at Set.
I released my grip gently, and winked at him. He still looked confused.
“What did you do to frighten him that much?” Mia asked when we entered the locker room.
“Except pushing Simona into the pool, of course.” She was chuckling at the thought, and Doris eyed us curiously.
“Hon, she ruined your bikini,” I explained, showing the red on fabric. She lowered her gaze seeing the stains.
“You can really surprise me, girl,” she smiled, putting her arm around my waist. “Why did you leave us?”
“I went for a drink.”
Doris insisted on driving, which meant the back seats were filled with me, Belun, Mia and Bryn. I’d arrived at the car last again, and when I saw Belun I grinned. Hell yeah! Not waiting for his invitation, I sat on his lap, putting my hand behind his neck. The heat in me grew with his proximity. I felt good and powerful, and I didn’t know what the others talked about because I had only one thing on my mind.
I leaned on my arm, closing the distance between us. This time, I felt his hardness under me much better. It was just awakening. Mmm. I pressed lightly against it, expecting him to move me at any second. He didn’t. He looked at me with a blurred expression; maybe from the swimming pool, maybe not. I didn’t lose any time and pushed against him again, his arm loosely went around me in a casual hug. However, there was nothing casual about his face.
I wanted him to press me strongly against himself, just like in my dream. I didn’t want tenderness, dove eyes and light caresses. I wanted passion.
His eyes never left mine.
“Nika,” he whispered, torment and pleasure mixed in one.
“Say it again.” My lips brushed his ear.
“Don’t.” I heard his barely audible whisper, but my answer was to press against him again, a bit harder this time.
“Nika,” he breathed, and his gaze intensified.
“That’s better,” I said.
His fingers squeezed my hips. We stayed like that for a second and then he moved me away. I didn’t mind it this time because he seemed completely lost in me. Perfect. A grin played at the corners of my lips.
When we arrived, he walked quickly away from me. Mia pulled my sleeve.
“Calm down,” she said, smiling, and I didn’t know what she meant or wanted.
It seemed that nobody else had noticed our little erotic drama in the car. The others chattered away, saying things to me as well, but I couldn’t hear them. There was a shadow in my eyes and I actually knew what I
wanted. And that had nothing to do with talking to them in front of the building.
I went inside, looking for him.
Almost everyone was downstairs near the fireplace, chatting and laughing. I caught the slight smell of gasoline in the air and, looking around, saw a gas can on the kitchen island, right next to the bowl with oranges and lemons. Who had brought it here? I had thought there were better ways of making the fireplace work. Belun wasn’t there, so I went upstairs.
There were many closed doors, and since I didn’t know which was his, I nervously strode around the hall. Then Set arrived.
“Set.”
“Angel. You feeling better?” He stood at the top of the stairs, and I approached him, fixing him with my stare. He’ll do.
I shoved him toward a window seat that was to our right.
“No, not really,” I said, pushing him to sit, my hand touching the silk crimson pillows behind him.
Set’s expression was like the one earlier at the bar, a grin of confusion and worry. I liked that, and, leaning my head closer, I put his hand on my thigh. His grin faded when I started moving it upwards, feeling its chill on my warm skin. He placed his hand on mine, undecidedly trying to move it in the opposite direction.
“Nika, don’t. I think . . .”
“I’ve already heard that.” Then I brought his head and started to kiss him. Moments later, he was passionately responding, so I straddled him, sitting on his lap.
“Nika . . .”
“We’re not here to talk.” There was an angry edge in my voice, and my fingernails dug into his neck. I had no control over myself. Fury. Passion. Passion! Fury!
Then there was a sudden pain in my chest, as if a spear had shot through me. I cried out, stepping away from Set.
Belun. Belun! My mind yelled just before I heard someone else’s scream coming from outside. A darkness inside me grew, feeding off the situation, and I started to act without thinking. Something deeper and much older than me was leading my body.
I ran downstairs; everyone was disturbed, but no one knew what was happening. No one, except me. As I eyed the gasoline can, my hand just reached out and grabbed it, taking a lighter as well. Then I hurried outside, hearing another cry.
Aidan was trying to keep himself and the girls away from two enormous creatures. They looked like very strong and tall bums, with long oily hair and shabby clothes. Then there was a pained cry—Belun! He was a couple feet away from the three, fighting with another Vocati, while the fourth one was attacking him from behind. That one was my target!
I ran toward him, jumping and spilling the gasoline over him, setting it on fire with a flick of the lighter. The flame immediately spread, eating every part of his—its—body and freeing Belun’s neck from its grasp. The Vocati let out an awful cry and took off toward the woods.
Belun seemed to be handling the Vocati he was fighting, so I ran toward Aidan, jumping the Vocati that was aiming for the girls. I landed square on its back, and, using my full strength, I put its head in a vice grip. The Vocati was trying to shake me off, but I had wrapped my legs around him and wasn’t going anywhere! Then Belun showed up from behind and stuck a silver dagger dead in its chest. Its body went still for a second before crashing to the ground. Ever the Warrior, Belun caught me in his arms before I fell.
When Aidan had killed the last of them, he looked around, checking for damage and potential enemies. But we were alone. We were safe. And then he gave me the strangest look that anybody had ever given me. Bryn was sobbing, and Mia and Doris were frozen, too terrified to do anything.
The darkness inside me started to withdraw under Aidan’s look. Belun’s arm was holding me tight when I started to shake; his face was the last thing I saw before I passed out.
*
I remember dreaming of a hill covered with fog and five empty graves that had seemed empty for a long time. It looked as if they would always stay that way, empty. Next to them, a man dug the sixth pit. His body was hunched and his face carved with the burden of the secrets and silence he had to carry.
“Just a little bit more,” he said.
“What?”
“And it will be done.”
Then I heard some voices near me. Slowly, they sharpened, together with my sight.
“Welcome back.” Doris’s hand was stroking my forehead.
“Where am I?”
“In the compound,” she said.
“How?”
“You had a seizure and lost consciousness. Help arrived and helicopters flew us here. Aidan, Belun and some other Warriors stayed there to check if there were any more Vocati. We still don’t know how they got there.”
“Tertius . . . .” I said quietly, but she didn’t know what I meant.
“You were in a comma for four days,” Mia said, coming closer to my bed.
“What? That long?” I tried to prop myself up on elbows but Doris gently held me down.
“You’ve survived an enormous shock.”
“So did you guys, and I don’t see you lying around in hospital beds.” I managed to prop up myself this time and I saw an interesting ikebana on the table next to me.
“Set brought it,” Doris said. “He’s been here several times.”
Oh, Set . . . I’d forgotten about him. The memory of the window seat scene swam into view.
What?? I didn’t! Oh, my God, I shook my head in disbelief.
“What, darling?”
“I can’t believe it.” They didn’t know what I meant, and I wasn’t feeling up to explaining.
“Is there a note?”
Doris nodded and read, “I know you’re sorry. Get well.” At least he wasn’t cherishing any false hope.
“What does he mean by that?” Mia asked.
“Bullying.”
“You . . . him?” Doris widened her eyes in surprise, and Mia only laughed.
“Oh, don’t ask,” I said, and she shrugged.
For the next five days, I felt like I was on house arrest. Doris had moved into my room, taking care of me until I was well. I lay in my bed, read, and chatted with her and the girls when they visited—which was daily. In between, I was mostly dying of boredom. I had some pills to take for my nerves, since I’d told doctor that the shaking had started long before the Vocati attack. I also had a few sessions with the resident shrink.
Belun and the rest had returned the following night, and Doris immediately flew into Aidan’s arms. I used that time to search online for a present for her and Julia, and this time I had more luck. I wanted to give them something that they would wear and think of me while wearing it. So what would be better than jewelry? For Jules, I’d found a pair of pretty silver earrings in the length she usually wore, and for Doris—well, first I thought of a necklace, but while searching for it I’d found an exact replica of the brooch from my dream. The dream that we’d shared. Perfect! And while I was looking for some paintings and posters for my bedroom wall, there was a knock on my suite door. It was probably Lena.
“Hi.”
“Hi,” I said, looking at Belun. “Come in.”
It was nice to see him, but I didn’t actually know how to behave. The last time I’d seen him, I’d been all over him.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
“I’m glad you’re back, ‘cause I’m dying of boredom without my job.” Okay, that wasn’t the only reason why I was glad to see him. He smiled, looking at me carefully. He probably didn’t know how to behave either.
“So, how was the hunt?” I asked, heading for the couch.
“You didn’t leave anything for us.”
That made me laughed—yeah, right. He sat on the other couch and turned to me.
“I’ve made a request to intensify your training.”
“Why?” I was confused.
“It would be worthwhile if you learned to fight.”
“I actually thought it went well.”
“If any of them had touched you first, it wouldn’t have.” His gaze
moved from mine at the mention of touch. God, he probably thought I was the most promiscuous person ever! Damn! Looking back on those moments in the car, I could actually believe that myself. Except, it didn’t really feel like it was me. What happened with all that passion and fury? Where did it come from?
“Maybe I should carry a dagger,” I teased.
“Maybe.”
The room was full of our shy smiles, a huge mixture of unsettling feeling and unfulfilled romance.
“I’ve never seen any human react the way you did. The Vocati are usually invisible to your people because of their homely looks; humans avoid them and pretend not to see them. And it usually works fine, until a Vocati gets too hungry and turns the peace into slaughter. Why do you think Inquirers are so important? You communicate with them on a reasonable level, unlike the rest of the humans or vampires.” He paused. “You were remarkable. You did a brave thing and saved my life, and probably the lives of the others.”
“Oh, you’d have managed.” Now it was my turn to look down under such a flood of praise.
“Maybe I would’ve, maybe not. Luckily, we didn’t have to find out.”
We looked at each other for some time, and then he saw the ikebana on the table. He read the message, and suddenly found the rug more interesting to look at than anything else in the room.
“It’s from Set. Apparently, he’s not hating me for attacking him that night.”
He looked up at me expectantly, but I wasn’t willing to elaborate. Belun didn’t need to know what kind of attack it had been. And fortunately, he didn’t insist either.
“I haven’t really been myself these days,” I said, avoiding his deep green eyes.
“I’ve noticed.”
Bang! He may as well have just shot me too. But okay, I guess I deserved it. His voice wasn’t judgmental, though, but more melancholic.
“Are you injured?” I asked.
“A little, but it will heal in a few days.”
“What about Aidan?”
“He’s good.”
“For the last five days Doris has been whining after him.” He laughed.
“That is how it is when you’re with a Warrior.” His sentence created an awkward silence between us.
“Well, that’s all,” he said, standing up. “I’m off; I only wanted to see that you were as recovered as your medical records said.”
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